Study Resource: German noun gender – some additional examples and exceptions

By: Ulrike Carlson


Masculine nouns
Biologically male	der Mann Translation: the man der Sohn Translation: the son der Hund Translation: the son	die Wache Translation: the guard	ends in -e, therefore feminine
Male kin	der Neffe Translation: the nephew der Opa Translation: the grandpa der Onkel Translation: the uncle	das Enkelchen Translation: the little grandson/-daughter das Väterchen Translation: the dear daddy das Mütterchen Translation: the dear mum	all end in -chen, therefore neuter
Men's job titles	der Koch Translation: the cook der Schaffner Translation: the ticket inspector der Kaufmann Translation: the merchant	—	no exceptions
Ending -ant	der Emigrant Translation: the emigrant der Lieferant Translation: the delivery man der Praktikant Translation: the intern	das Restaurant Translation: the restaurant das Croissant Translation: the croissant das Deo(dorant) Translation: the antiperspirant	French origin and -ant is usually pronounced with a nasal transcribed ã
Ending -är	der Bär Translation: the bear der Millionär Translation: the millionaire der Sekretär Translation: the secretary	das Militär Translation: the military das Tertiär Translation: the Tertiary (period) das Quartär Translation: the Quarternary (period)	no other exceptions known, only the word Militär and all geological eras
Ending -ast	der Gymnasiast Translation: the high school student der Gast Translation: the guest der Mast Translation: the pole	die Last Translation: the burden die Hast Translation: the haste	no other exceptions known
Ending -en	der Kuchen Translation: the cake der Boden Translation: the floor der Schaden Translation: the damage	das Unternehmen Translation: the enterprise/undertaking das Laufen Translation: the running das Kissen Translation: the pillow	Unternehmen and Laufen are verbs used as nouns and therefore always neuter
Ending -ent	der Student Translation: the male student der Präsident Translation: the president der Patient Translation: the patient	das Kompliment Translation: the compliment das Instrument Translation: the instrument das Engagement Translation: the commitment	all words with -ment are neuter, be they pronounced ment or transcribed mã
Ending -eur/-ör	der Frisör/Friseur Translation: the barber der Regisseur Translation: the stage director der Ingenieur Translation: the engineer	das Malheur Translation: the mishap die Couleur Translation: the shade (of color)	die Couleur is feminine because it is also feminine in French
Ending -el	der Schlüssel Translation: the key der Löffel Translation: the spoon der Vogel Translation: the bird	die Schüssel Translation: the bowl die Schachtel Translation: the box das Kabel Translation: the cable	this rule has several exceptions
Ending -er	der Lehrer Translation: the male teacher der Schüler Translation: the male pupil der Witwer Translation: the widower	die Butter Translation: the butter das Fenster Translation: the window das Wasser Translation: the water	this rule has several exceptions
Ending -ich	der Pfirsich Translation: the peach der Teppich Translation: the carpet/rug der Kranich Translation: the crane (bird)	das Reich Translation: the realm	the i is part of the diphthong ei
Ending -ig	der König Translation: the king der Essig Translation: the vinegar der Honig Translation: the honey	das Reisig Translation: the brushwood die Hallig Translation: undiked island numbers with -zig	no other exceptions known
Ending -ismus	der Tourismus Translation: the tourism der Buddhismus Translation: the Buddhism der Optimismus Translation: the optimism	—	no exceptions
Ending -ist	der Polizist Translation: the policeman der Egoist Translation: the egoist der Tourist Translation: the tourist	die Frist Translation: the deadline die List Translation: the trick, the ruse	no other exceptions known
Ending -ling	der Zwilling Translation: the twin der Pfifferling Translation: the chanterelle (mushroom) der Schmetterling Translation: the butterfly	das Recycling Translation: the recycling das Bowling Translation: the bowling die Reling Translation: the railing	English loanwords with -ling are neuter
Ending -or	der Professor Translation: the professor der Doktor Translation: the doctor der Motor Translation: the engine	das Labor Translation: the laboratory das Chlor Translation: the chlorine das Tor Translation: the gate	Labor is an abbreviation of das Laboratorium, therefore neuter; Chlor is a chemical element, therefore neuter
Ending -us	der Globus Translation: the globe der Bus Translation: the bus der Zirkus Translation: the circus	das Apfelmus Translation: the apple puree die Maus Translation: the mouse das Plus Translation: the plus	The u in Mus is long but in some areas it is der Apfelmus; the u in Maus is part of the diphthong au; Plus is an abbreviation of das Pluszeichen meaning the plus sign
Days	der Montag Translation: Monday der Mittwoch Translation: Wednesday der Sonntag Translation: the circus	—	no exceptions
Months	der Sommer Translation: the summer der Herbst Translation: the autumn der Winter Translation: the winter	—	no exceptions
Cardinal points (and compounds with cardinal points)	der Norden Translation: the north der Südwesten Translation: the southwest der Nahe Osten Translation: the Middle East	—	no exceptions
Weather phenomena	der Regen Translation: the rain der Sturm Translation: the storm der Hagel Translation: the hail	das Eis Translation: the ice die Hitze Translation: the heat das Gewitter Translation: the thunderstorm	this rule has a few more exceptions
Car brands	der Mercedes Translation: the Mercedes der Sturm Translation: the storm der Hagel Translation: the hail	—	no exceptions
Currency	der Euro Translation: the euro der Dollar Translation: the dollar der Peso Translation: the peso	die Mark Translation: the (German) mark die Krone Translation: the (Danish) crown das Pfund Translation: the (British) pound	this rule has a few more exceptions
Foreign rivers unless they end in -a or -e There is no rule for domestic rivers.	der Nil Translation: the Nile der Amazonas Translation: the Amazon der Mississippi Translation: the Mississippi	—	no exceptions
Mountains and mountain ranges	der Mt. Everest Translation: the Mt. Everest der Himalaja Translation: the Himalayas der K2 Translation: the K2	die Zugspitze Translation: the Zugspitze die Rhön Translation: the Rhön mountains die Eifel Translation: the Eifel Massif	the old name used to be der Zugspitz, but it changed to die Zugspitze in the 19th century
Nouns that are derived from verbs without adding an ending	der Rauch Translation: the smoke der Hass Translation: the hatred der Lauf Translation: the run	—	no exceptions known


Feminine nouns
Biologically female	die Frau Translation: the woman die Tochter Translation: the daughter die Hündin Translation: the female dog	das Mädchen Translation: the girl das Weib Translation: the woman, the female das Weibchen Translation: the female animal	all words ending in -chen are neuter
Female kin	die Nichte Translation: the niece die Oma Translation: the grandma die Tante Translation: the aunt	—	no exceptions
Women's job titles	die Ingenieurin Translation: the female engineer die Hebamme Translation: the midwife die Kauffrau Translation: the female merchant	—	no exceptions
Ending -ade	die Schokolade Translation: the chocolate die Marmelade Translation: the jam / marmalade die Schublade Translation: the drawer	der Nomade Translation: the nomad das Gestade Translation: the (river) bank	nomade is biologically male; all sets with Ge- are neuter
Ending -anz (multisyllabic)	die Arroganz Translation: the arrogance die Kulanz Translation: the amiability die Toleranz Translation: the tolerance	der Popanz Translation: the bugbear der Firlefanz Translation: the gimmickry	no other exceptions known
Ending -e	die Birne Translation: the pear die Waage Translation: the scale die Hose Translation: the trousers	der Neffe Translation: the nephew der Junge Translation: the boy der Käse Translation: the stranger	Neffe and Junge are biologically male
Ending -ei (multisyllabic)	die Bäckerei Translation: the bakery die Partei Translation: the political party die Türkei Translation: Turkey	der Salbei Translation: the sage (plant) das Einerlei Translation: the monotony das Allerlei Translation: the potpourri	no other exceptions known
Ending -enz (multisyllabic)	die Kompetenz Translation: the competence die Lizenz Translation: the license die Frequenz Translation: the frequency	—	no exceptions
Ending -heit	die Gesundheit Translation: the health die Krankheit Translation: the illness die Wahrheit Translation: the truth	—	no exceptions
Ending -ie	die Familie Translation: the health die Demokratie Translation: the democracy die Chemie Translation: the chemistry	das Genie Translation: the genius der Zombie Translation: the zombie der Sellerie Translation: the celery	this rule has several exceptions (usually loanwords from English)
Ending -ik	die Chronik Translation: the chronicle die Fabrik Translation: the factory die Republik Translation: the chemistry	das Plastik Translation: the plastic der Atlantik Translation: the Atlantic Ocean das Mosaik Translation: the mosaic	this rule has a few more exceptions
Ending -in	die Französin Translation: the Frenchwoman die Diebin Translation: the female thief die Kundin Translation: the female customer	der Termin Translation: the appointment der Kamin Translation: the fireplace der Rubin Translation: the ruby	this rule only applies when -in is pronounced "in", but not when it is pronounced "een"
Ending -ion	die Funktion Translation: the function die Religion Translation: the religion die Nation Translation: the nation	der Spion Translation: the spy das Stadion Translation: the stadium der Skorpion Translation: the ruby	this rule has a few more exceptions
Ending -ität	die Realität Translation: the reality die Qualität Translation: the quality die Uni(versität) Translation: the uni(versity)	—	no exceptions
Ending -keit	die Fähigkeit Translation: the ability die Gerechtigkeit Translation: the justice die Ehrlichkeit Translation: the honesty	—	no exceptions
Ending -schaft	die Mannschaft Translation: the team die Botschaft Translation: the embassy die Wirtschaft Translation: the economy	—	no exceptions
Ending -sis	die Basis Translation: the base die Dosis Translation: the dose (of) die Skepsis Translation: the skepticism	—	no exceptions
Ending -ung	die Heizung Translation: the heating die Rechnung Translation: the invoice die Zeitung Translation: the newspaper	der Sprung Translation: the jump der Umschwung Translation: the turnaround	no other exceptions known
Ending -ur	die Agentur Translation: the agency die Figur Translation: the figure die Kur Translation: the cure	der Schwur Translation: the oath das Abitur Translation: the high school graduation die Schnur Translation: the cord	this rule has a few more exceptions
Numbers	die Agentur Translation: the agency die Figur Translation: the figure die Kur Translation: the cure	das Hundert Translation: the hundred of das Tausend Translation: the thousand of	no other exceptions known
Motorcycle brands	die Yamaha Translation: the Yamaha die Kawasaki Translation: the Kawasaki die Honda Translation: the Honda	—	no exceptions
Ship names	die Titanic Translation: the Titanic die Gorch Fock Translation: the Gorch Fock die AIDA Translation: the AIDA cruiseship	—	no exceptions
Fruits	die Banane Translation: the banana die Avocado Translation: the avocado die Walnuss Translation: the walnut	der Apfel Translation: the apple der Pfirsich Translation: the peach der Holunder Translation: the elder	no other exceptions known
Flowers	die Rose Translation: the rose die Distel Translation: the thistle die Aster Translation: the aster	der Enzian Translation: the gentian das Edelweiß Translation: the edelweiss der Flieder Translation: the lilac	no other exceptions known
Rivers ending in -a or -e	die Spree Translation: the Spree die Wolga Translation: the Volga die Themse Translation: the Thames	—	no exceptions
Nouns derived from verbs by adding -e	die Suche Translation: the search die Reise Translation: the journey die Taufe Translation: the baptism	der Glaube Translation: the belief	no other exceptions known


Neuter nouns
Young people or animals	das Kind Translation: the child das Kitz Translation: the fawn (deer) das Ferkel Translation: the piglet	der Junge Translation: the boy der Frischling Translation: the young boar der Welpe Translation: the pup	Junge is biologically male, therefore masculine; all words ending in -ling are masculine
Ending -chen (diminutives)	das Mädchen Translation: the girl das Häuschen Translation: the little house das Frauchen Translation: the female owner of a dog	—	no exceptions
Ending -ett	das Tablett Translation: the tray das Etikett Translation: the label das Brett Translation: the board	—	no exceptions
Ending -eau transcribed -oh	das Niveau Translation: the level das Plateau Translation: the plateau das Tableau Translation: the panel	—	no exceptions
Ending -il	das Ventil Translation: the valve das Krokodil Translation: the crocodile das Fossil Translation: the fossil	der April Translation: April der Stil Translation: the style der Pfeil Translation: the arrow	all months are masculine; Stil is a loanword from Latin stilus which is masculine; most words ending in -eil are masculine
Ending -lein (diminutives)	das Fräulein Translation: the miss das Zicklein Translation: the crocodile das Fossil Translation: the little bird	—	no exceptions
Ending -ma	das Klima Translation: the climate das Asthma Translation: the asthma das Thema Translation: the topic	die Firma Translation: the company die Oma Translation: the grandma	Oma is biologically female, therefore feminine
Ending -ment	das Instrument Translation: the instrument das Element Translation: the element das Parlament Translation: the parliament	der Moment Translation: the moment der Zement Translation: the cement der Konsument Translation: the consumer das Moment Translation: the momentum	all designations for people ending in -ent are masculine
Ending -nis	das Ergebnis Translation: the result das Geheimnis Translation: the secret das Zeugnis Translation: the report card	die Erkenntnis Translation: the realization die Erlaubnis Translation: the permission die Besorgnis Translation: the concern	this rule has a few more exceptions
Ending -tel	das Drittel Translation: the third of das Hotel Translation: the hotel das Mittel Translation: the means	der Beutel Translation: the bag der Mantel Translation: the coat der Gürtel Translation: the belt	this rule has a few more exceptions
Ending -tum	das Eigentum Translation: the property das Christentum Translation: the Christianity das Wachstum Translation: the growth	der Reichtum Translation: the fortune der Irrtum Translation: the fallacy	no other exceptions known
Ending -um	das Museum Translation: the museum das Ministerium Translation: the ministry das Zentrum Translation: the center	der Konsum Translation: the consumption der Slum Translation: the slum	this rule only applies when -um is pronounced with a short vowel, but it is long in Konsum; Slum is pronounced as in English
Colors	das Grün Translation: the green das Zinnoberrot Translation: the vermillion das Ultraviolett Translation: the ultraviolet	—	no exceptions
Language names	das Deutsch(e) Translation: the German language das Französisch(e) Translation: the French language das Thai Translation: the Thai language	—	no exceptions
Letters of the alphabet	das B Translation: the letter B das A und O Translation: the Alpha and Omega das hohe C Translation: the high C	—	no exceptions
Foreign words	das Auto Translation: the car das Aftershave Translation: the aftershave lotion das Topmodel Translation: the topmodel	die Mall Translation: the shopping mall die Jeans Translation: the jeans der Job Translation: the job	this rule has more exceptions
Hotel names	das Hilton Translation: the Hilton das Bellagio Translation: the Bellagio das Burj Al Arab Translation: the Burj Al Arab	—	no exceptions
Sets with Ge-	das Gebirge Translation: the mountain range das Bellagio Translation: the Bellagio das Burj Al Arab Translation: the Burj Al Arab	—	no exceptions
Geographical names with adjectives	das schöne Berlin Translation: beautiful Berlin das kalte Norwegen Translation: cold Norway das ferne Asien Translation: far-away Asia	—	no exceptions
Chemical elements	das Eisen Translation: the iron das Helium Translation: the helium das Kupfer Translation: the copper	der Sauerstoff Translation: the oxygen der Wasserstoff Translation: the hydrogen der Phosphor Translation: the phosphor	this rule has a few more exceptions
Fractions	das Drittel Translation: the third das Hundertstel Translation: the hundredth das Milliardstel Translation: the billionth	die Hälfte Translation: the half	no other exceptions known
Verbal infinitives used as nouns	das Laufen Translation: the running das Schwimmen Translation: the swimming das Stolpern Translation: the stumbling	—	no exceptions